Overhead door guiding and latching mechanism



Nov. 9, 1948. I J. THOMAS 2,453,554

OVERHEAD DOORGUIDING AND LATCHING MECHANISM Filed May 11, 1945 2sheets-sheer 1 ,NIMH

. f jlvl/ENTOR.

Afro/@M1425 J. T}1OMA$ OVERHEAD DOOR GUIDINGAND LATOHING MEOHANISM NOV,99 31948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay l1,y 1945 Patented Nov. 9, 1948 UNITED ISTATES i PATENT OFFICE i, i ,a i 2,453,554 f OVERHEAD Doon GUIDING AND`LATCHING` MECHANISM` i John Thomas, M ilwakeeQWis. ApplicatioirMay 11,1945, seria1No.593,136 i of the type which includes superimposed andfoldably connected sections arranged relative to the tracks or guidingmeans in a manner so that the rollers, carried by the top section ofthedoon are on hingedly mounted supports which may p roject outwardly orcollapseirelat'ive to said door section, 'v /hereby, for the elevationof the `door to overhead position, a `pathfutilizing but a minimumexpensive .door section mechanism which is `easy to install, which isadinstable` ,to compensate forthe variationsindoor Widths, and which iseasy to operate.`

of 'head room is reduired." In doors of the type l under consideration,due to the low elevation Yof i the overhead portion of the guidingtracks for'the door, the top sectionof the door may break or foldinwardly before initiation of movement of the entiredoor, with theresult that special separate lmeans must be provided for controllingswinging movement o f the top section of the door and `for latching saiddoor is closed. y I

-With the'foregoing in mind, it is,*therefore, a primary object ofthepresent invention to provide, in connection withan overhead door ofthe type mentioned, unitary and `jointly operated means forsimultaneously controlling Vswinging movement of the top .section ofthedoor and for controlling :latch mechanism fassociated there- A furtherobject of the invention is to provide, l

in a plural-section overhead door,l `a latching mechanism whichsimultaneously and jointly latches the upper section of thedoor againstin`v IWard swinging movement, and latches the entire door againstvertical movement;

A` further object of the invention to provide,`

in an overhead door guiding and latching mechanism, `hinge sections ofsimple formation made according to a single pattern and adapted forluseindividually or` inpairs `in `various arrangements onthedoor. Y, IAufurther object of the invention is to provide,

in a multi-section overhead door, a simplemechanism traversing theupper: section` of the door" and controllable from an intermediatepointlon the door for latching thedoorand for operating the roller-carryingsupportsfor the top section of the door.

Afurther object of the invention is `to provide, in `a multi-sectionoverhead door, simple and` in-l...

top section when therentire of "the showing `A further object oftheinvention is` to provide 'an overhead door guidingand latching mechanismof` a very simple and inexpensiveconstruc-- tion, which is strong anddurable, which issimple and elicie'nt in operation, and which I is `Welladapted for thepurpses described.

Withfthei'above and other objects in View, the invention consists of theimproved overhead door guiding andllatchingmechanism, and its parts andcombinations asset forth in the claims, and all equivalents'thereof. Inthe accompanying `drawings,`in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views: l

"Fia 1 is a rearorfinner elevational view 0f the improved overhead doorin its closed position and showing the guiding and latching mechanismapplied thereto, portions of the supporting structure being shown-insection, said View being I taken on line I-I of Fig; 2;

hingedly associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a similar view at right angles to the showing `in Fig;4'with`part`s brokenaway and in section; Fig. 6is anenlarged fragmentarydetailsectionalviewtakenon line 6--6 ofFigQ 1; and Fig. 7 is afragmentary detail sectional view in Fig.` 6 takenat right anglesthereto.` Y I Referring [now more particularly to the drawings, thecomplete Vsectional overhead door I0 is illustrated as having twosections I I and I I 2, but in actual practice the door may include anydesired number of illustrated sections. The sections I I controlling"and Ilatching e and I2v are hinged together in superimposed relation byhinges which compriseA complementary plate members I3 and I4, whichIwill be dealt with more fully hereinafter. For the purpose of guidingthe door to and from its overhead position there is provided adjacenteach side of the door a metal track I5 of channeled formation andcomprising an upright section I6, a curved section I1 and an overheadhorizontal section I8.

For foldably connecting the superimposed door sections II and I2, setsof spaced complementary hinge plates I3 and I4 are utilized, aspreviously mentioned. The hinge plates are of very simple 'constractionvand adapt themselves.. to.. different usages and installations` For thehinged connection of the door sections each hinge is composed of asection I3 and a complementary section I4, the latter being narrowerthan the section I3 so as to t within the flangedt sides-thereof, asshown. A hinge plate or section I3 is screwed or otherwise secured toone section of the door and the complementary hinge plate or section I4is screwed or otherwise secured to! the other-section of the door, withthe adjacent portions vof the hinge sections telescoping and saidtelescoping portions being provided with registering apertures throughwhich a pintle I9` is extended, the pintlel being enclosed in a sleeve20 welded or otherwise secured within-an end portion of one` of the,hinge sections, as the section I4. As for'the hinge members, which areadjacent the side margins ofthe door, the pintles' I9 are relativelylong andthe outer ends of the same carry rollers 2;I "to ride, in thetracks I5'.r On the lower face portions ofY the door section II,adjacentthe side margins, thereof," plates. I3 may be secured carryingsleeves 20"which have. j ournalled therein.

the pintles I9 carrying lower. track engaging rollers 2 I, on theirouter ends. The roller-carrying pintles I9 are longitudinally, shiftablein their Sleeves, 20, and this.ner-mits thel rollers 2l to be broughtintoaccurate registrationwith the tracks I5, when the door isinstalledirrespective of slight inaccuraciesin the positions. of theyhinges orA in thev door sectionI width.,

The improved, mechanism` :for guiding. the door to and from, itsoverhead,y position is. of.y impor tance inthe present invention. The,upper, inner corner face portions ofthe topsectionA I2` of the,

doorhaye sorewedtheretoplates I4Y similar to those previously describedin connectionwith the hinges, Onlyffpostoned, withtheir. sleeve portions20,11ppermost. As the. constructiomof the upper. roller-carryingelements,V on each.V side1 of. the door areidentical, onlyonewill bedescribedl in cie--V the opposite. rollerecarrying; bracketvr 22, ,withits-v Afbracketpplate 22,7in its swingableiassociationwith a fixedlplate I4, is shown in detail infl-igs.- 4 and,.,5. Withinagsleeve-20fvinthe freeend: O f

the plate 2,2 isre'volubly mounteda shaft 24 car.4 rying= anY uppertrackroller` atits outer end:

Said, shaftis .axially adjustable.v in its sleeve for adiuaiments, andinstallation alnement. Fast on the elongated horizontal rod 23 adjacentan inner face portion of the bracket plate 22 is a crank 26 having onits free end an inwardly pro-i jecting stud 21 extending into an arcuateslot 28 in an inner side flange of the bracket plate 22; Obviously, whenoscillatory movement is imparted to the elongated rod 23, through meansherein `after to be described, swinging movement will be imparted to thecrank 26 to oscillate the stud 21 in the bracket plate slot 28. The'slot provides for a certain degree of lost motion before the stud 21'contacts end portions of the slot to thereby swing the roller-carryingbracket plate 22.

Mountedonsthe building,` supporting l structure adjacent eachhorizontalgitrack section. I8 is a counter-balancing spring 29 (see Fig.2). One end of va spring is anchored, as at 30, while the other end of aspring carries a sheave 3| about which is extended an elongated cable32, a portion of the cable also being engaged by another shear/re 33.fsuspended from the supporting structure atsome distance from the sheave`3I. One end of the cable 32 is anchored, as at 34, While the. oth-erendof the cable, passing downwardly from the sheave 33, is anchored on abracket 35 projectinglaterally from a lower inner.face.p.or tion, ofkthe, lowermost door section Il.

Mountedon the inner surfaceof, awall or. support,r over the door openingand, intermediate theV sideedges thereof is a latchsocket plate3Iiadaptf-` ed to be entered by aspring-urged latchbolt 31A vertically,reciprocatably mounted in` a. bracketV plate 3,8.. securedl to a, faceportion of` the door section I 2. adlacentfitsv .upper margin .and inver"-Y tical alinement with, the` socket plate 36. lrlter-` gral` with.and depending from the; bracketplate 3B isl a, bifurcated.-bearingfbracket 39 in which anintermediate portion of the horizontal rodk23 is. journalled.-` .Theinner eyed, extremity of abifur cated,lever40. is. securedy to ,the rod 23 yandthe outerendiportions ofsaidlever 40fhave pivotally connected` therebetween, as at 4I, theupperextremity of4 theangledgendof a vertically reciprocatable,operating linie` 42.

Therey -is intermediately lpivotallyA mountedA bek-v tween depending earportions of the bifurcated; bracket39- a yoke-like lever 43 whichencloses the upwardly, extending flattened portion of 1 the; link;

mounted on; anainnerlfaceportion ofthe door sec-.- tion- I-Z'byfmeansofjstaplesor guides-48." On-.thexinner` face oflthe door. section.I Iintermediate the f side edges thereof andiadjacentits hingedly con-.-nected; lowern'iargin` is a revolubly mounted plate 49; having aixedjthereto, the inner end of'anV operating; handle-Iii` The ilower endportion .ofa connectionrl is pivotally,v mounted on` thei handle l. 50and. theuppersendportion i off said connection 5I is in hookedengagement with the. depending lower; extremityzofrthelink 4'2. Thus, amovementyoff the: handle 50 2 is f effective to partially re volvetheplate 49fand'to also raise'or lower the jointedf1inkages-5'I--42 toimpart, through'the :mechanismpreviously,4 described and illustrated in,ligsv Ii4 andufl; movementl tothe latch bolt 3l and simultaneousoscillatory movement`v tothe elongated ihorizontali rod 23 which,through the V`arrangement;y of: Figs. Iband .5,1 swingsthel upper-ifroller-carrying supporting plates 22. In` actual practice, al similar,handle member 50 `may be provided on theouter face of the door andconnected withthe plate 49 in` order` to operate the latchingmechanismand door section swinging mechanismfrom exterior of the building. @Itwill be noted that `the circular plate 49 is formed with anotch 52which, when the mechanism-is locked is engaged by a lock plunger 53.Projection and retraction of the lock plunger 53 is eiTected in theconventional manner by a key inserted` into a lock cylinder y54, andupon movement,` of the lock tumblers thereby, the lock plunger 53 isactuated whereby the handle 50 and associated mechanism is free to bemoved, or is locked against, movement, as the case may be.

`In the operationof the overhead door incorporating the improved guidingand latching mechanism, let it be` assumed that the door `is in itsclosedand latched conditionillustrated in Figs. 1, 2i, and 6. I-f it isdesired to unlatch the door prior tomanually shifting itto its overheadopen position, the lock is first manipulated to release thelock `plunger53` from the disc recess 52. Thereupon, the handle 50 is raised orturned in a counterclock-wise direction relative to Fig. 1.

Through, the jointed `linkage 5I42, which is thereby` shifted upwardly,the lever 43 is turned in a` clockwise direction relative to Fig. 6 tothereby lowergthe latch bolt 31 and to withdraw it from `the lat-chsocket l36 against the tension of the coiledspring 55. Simultaneouslythe upward shifting of the jointed linkage 5|-42 will operate `to raisethe` lever arm 40 to thereby turn the elongatedhorizontal `rod 23 in aclockwise direction relatiyeto Fig.` 6. The outer ends of said rod carrythe levers 26 and said levers are shifted from `the `position of Fig. 2to the position of Fig. 3 with theirstuds 21 riding in the bracket slots28. z The position of Fig. 3 is attained approximately simultaneouslywith the release of the latchbolt and wedging :pressure against theinner face` of the upper door section I2 is released sothat said doorsection, becauseof. its weight and mounting, swings or breaks inwardlyslightlygto the position of Fig. `3, with a slight shift ofthe`bracket-carrying rollers 22 relative to the curvedportions of the trackl1. Thereafter,` the door may be manually pushed toits horizontaloverhead open position, such movement being accomplished with littleeffort due tothe spring `and cable arrangement; which counterbalancesthe door. Also, the various rollers 2| and 25 ride` freely in thetracks. The door is closed in` a `reverse manner and when the positionof Fig. 3 is attained, then the handle 5llis swungldownwardly to shiftthe jointed linkage 5| -ll2V downwardly and the rod 23 turns inI `adirection to kick the levers 26 from the positionof Fig. 3 to theposition of Fig. 2, wherein the levers and brackets 22 then exert awedging or pushing action against the slightly open i upper portion lofthe upper door section to cause itto assume `the completely closedposition of Fig. 2.., whereupon ,expansion of the spring will cause thelatch bolt 31 to snap into the latch socket 36.r It .will thusrbe seenthat the improved mechanism is eiective through a single` manualmanipulation to simultaneously and jointly oper-l ate the latch bolt andto dispose the upper rollercarryingbrackets 22 in a manner to exert apushing force against the upper section of the door, .lor/to release`such pushing force to permit the doorsection to break inwardly, ,as thecase maybel l m The door `mechanism is susceptible ofjeasy mounting topermit installation of the doorregardless of slight inaccuracies ordifierencesin door widths. The roll shafts |9'are axially shiftable intheir hinge or bracket sleeves ,to l

properly aline them with the side tracks. l Likewise, thelever-carryingnstuds 2 are of suiicient length to engage` in the bracketslots 28` regardless of` slight inaccuraciesin` the positioning of saidbrackets. Thenlatch mechanism notonly latches the upper section oftheoverhead door in its `vertical position to prevent undesired` inwardbreaking thereof, but also latchesthe entire door against verticalmovement. When the overheadl door` is in itsclosed position, the upperhinged section I2 `ofthe door is automatically retained in a correctclosed condition without any special manipulating means therefor. Whenthe door is to be opened simultaneously with the release of the doorlatch, the upperdoor section i automatically breaks inwardly slightlyand the mounting brackets `for the upper rollers compensatingly varytheir proximity to the plane of the door section during movements, with'the result that when `the door is in its raised overhead position, saidroller-carrying brackets collapse adjacent the'iface `of `thedoor` to`occupy very little space, and this is of considerableadvantage inminimizing the overhead required for the door. The improved overheaddoor 'guiding and latching mechanism isfurthermore of simple and novelconstruction `and is well` adapted for the purposes described. l What isclaimed as the invention is: i .i 1. Anoverhead door, comprising apairofsuperimposedI hingedly connected` sections,` tracks" mounted adjacentboth sideedges :of the door to guideath'e door'from a vertical to ahorizontal positionpguiderollers carried by` the lower sec-` tion of thedoor, independent bearing units hingedly mounted upon the upper cornerportions of the top sectionrof the door and carrying on their free endsrollers to engage saidtracks, and means engaging said bearingunits and.extending to a position on` the door remotetherefrom'for manuallycontrolling relative rockingmovement betweenl the top section of thedoor and said bearing units.

2. An overhead door, comprisinga pair of su' perimposed,` hingedlyconnected sections, tracks` mounted adjacent both' sideedges of saiddoor to guide the door froma vertical to a horizontal position, guiderollers carried by thelower section of the door to engage said tracks,independent bearing units hingedly mounted upon the` upper cornerportions of the top section `ofthe. door` and carrying on their freeends rollers to engage said tracks, a latch bolt movably mounted on thetop section of the door adjacent its free margin Ifor latching `saiddoor section in vertical closed position, `and commonmeans forcontrolling said latch bolt and for effecting relative rocking movementsbetween said bearing units and the top section of the door.

3. An overhead door, comprising apair of su` perimposed, hingedlyconnected sections, tracks tion of the door to engage said tracks, arock shaft movably mounted on and traversing the upper section of th'edoor, independent bearing` units mounted upon the upper corner portionsof the top section of the door and carrying on their free endsrollers toengage said tracks,\said` rock" shaft formingia common pintle'for hingedmovementsof saidfbearing unit, lost motion ycotilleotions'l between`said rock shaft and said bearing 'units for effecting relative vrockingland `vvedging movements between saidv bearing units and the top sectionof the door, and means extending from said-rock shaft to a remoteoperating point on 'the door for moving said rock shaft;

42.1An overhead door', comprising a pair of 'supermposed, h'ingedlyconnected sections,v tracks lmounted adjacent both side. edgesoffsaiddoor to Iguide the .door from a verticalv to` a horizontalposition, guide rollers carried by the-lower sec- -tion ofthe door to.engage said tracks, a rock shaft movably mountedonand traversing theupper section of the door, independentI bearing units'mounted upon theupper corner portions .of the top .section of the .door Iand .carryingon their freeends rollers to `engage said tracks, said rock'v .shaftforming a common pintle for hinged movementsy of said bearing units,lost motion connections between said rock shaft and said bearing unitsfor `effecting lrelative rocking and wedging movements between saidbearing units and thetop'. section of theidoor, a latch bolt movablymounted on thetop. sectionof the `door adjacent, its free' margin forlatching said door section in vertical 'closed position, and commonmeansfor moving said rock shaft and for operating said latch bolt. i

15.\` An v.overhead door, comprising a pair ofsuperimposed, hngedlyconnected sections, tracks mounted adjacent both. side edges of.saiddoor to guide th'e door from a vertical to a `horizontal position,guide rollers carried by the lower section of the door to* engagesaid'tracks, a` rock shaftfmovably mounted on and'traversing the upperzsection of the door, independent bearing units mounted upon the uppercorner portions of the top section of the door and carrying on theirfree ends rollers to engage said tracks, said rock shaft forming acommon pintle for hinged movements of said bearing unit, lost motionconnections between said rock shaft and said bearing units forueectingrelative rocking and wedging movements between said bearing units andthe top section of the door, a latch bolt movablly mounted on the topsection of the door adjacent its' free margin for latching said doorsection in vertioalfclosed position, andccommon mea-ns extending from alower portion of said door tothe rock shaft vand to the latch bolty forsimultane ously manually operating the same.

6. An4 overhead door, comprising -a`l pair of s u'- perimposed,hingedlyr connected sections, tracks mounted adjacent both side .edgesofsaid door to guide thedoor from a vertical to a horizontal position,guide rollers .carried by the lowersection of, the door to engage saidtracks, a rock shaft movably mounted on and traversing the upper section.of the door, independent` bearing lunits mounted upon the upper cornerportionsof the top section vof the door and carrying .on their free endsrollers to engage said tracks, said rock shaft forming acommon pintlefor hinged movementsv of said bearing. units, lostI motionlconnecg tionsbetween said.l rock shaft and said bearing units for effecting relativerocking and:- vvedgingV movements betweensaid 4bearing yunits andthe.top` section of the door,` La latch bolt moi/ably. mountedxon' the topsectionrof .the door 'adjacent its free marginfor latchingsaidadoorisectionin vertical closed position; 4a handleivmovably mountedon the door remote from',the,latchbolt1andf bearing units, andanelongated jointed;` linkage extending from the handle 'to therockshaftfaknd llatch' boltv for simultaneously operating both'of thel'latter upon movementsof 'Y the handle.

7. A 'bearing assembly mounted upon Ythe upper-- most section of anoverhead doorycompri'si-ng'a pair of hinge brackets mounted on-oppositecorner face portions of the door section, an elongated rock shaftmovably mounted on said door section and extending between said hingebrackets to swingably engage saidbrackets and to form-a. common pintlefor thesame, said brackets projecting shiftably inwardly of they planeof said door section face, anti-frictionl devices carriedby thev outerends of said hinge brackets and projecting laterally therefrom, aconnection attached to an intermediate portion of said rock shaft, andan operating member movably mounted on a section of said door andengaging said connection.

8. A bearing assembly mounted upon theuppermost section of an overheaddoor, comprising a pair of hinge brackets mounted on opposite cornerface portions of the `door section, an elongated rock shaft movablymounted on said door section and extending between said hingebracketstorswingably engage said brackets and'to vf-orm a common pintle for thesame, said brackets-projecting 'shiftably inwardly ofy the plane of'saiddoor section face,` anti-friction devices carried by the outer ends of'said hinge brackets and projecting laterally therefrom, a latch boltreciprocatably mounted on said uppermost section of the door adjacentits upper margin and intermediate the hinge brackets, a connectionlattached to an intermediate portion of saidrock shaft to oscillate itand to said bolt to reciprocate it, and"l an operating handlemovablymounted'on a section of the door remote from the bolt andbrackeets and operatively engaging said connection.

9. Control means for an overhead door of the type which includes a pairof sect-ions hingedtogether in superimposed relation to fit in a doorframe with tracks adjacent-'the sides of the door frame curvingrearwardly therefrom, comprising hinged brackets on opposite uppercorner face portions of the uppermost sectionof'the-door-carryingantiefriction members to ride in said tracks, meansfor causing relative-swinging movement asy between said hinged bracketsand said door'section, a latch onthe uppermost foldable door sectionv tojointly latch said section againstv independent swinging movement andthe en-tire door against `sliding movementl on the tracks, and manualcontrol means mounted on a remote portion of the door for jointlycontrolling'relativeswinging movement of said hinged 'brackets'andoperationlof said'latch. i

10. Control means for an overheadf door of the hinged brackets onopposite upper corner face'- portions of the uppermost section of thedoor carrying anti-friction members to ride in said.

tracks, means for causing relative swinging move:

ment as between said hinged brackets and said" door" section, a latchon` the uppermost foldab'le door section to jointly latch saidsectionagainst independent swinging movement and the entiredoory againstsliding movement on theA tracks; manual control means mounted on. aremote portion of the door for jointly controlling relative'I swingingmovement of said hingedy brackets and' operation 'of said latch,- andmeans for locking said control means against operation.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordl in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date i Johnson Dec. 11, `1934 PixleyMar. 3, 1936 Brunst May 19, 1936 Basile June 8, 1937 Bagley Aug. 31,1937

